[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by driver52001

Google Maps shows these two routes from Dharamshala to McLeod Ganj. Which is the one to take in order to avoid the steep and narrow climbs via Jogibara? Thanks

Attachment 2393981

Avoid the shorter route suggested by gmap, this is the one which is steep and narrow. Take the second route.

[bimal_67]

Hi, bumping up the thread for updates if any, on road condition for Delhi - Dharamshala route. Intend to cover Delhi to Dharamshala in a day.

[PaddleShifter]

Originally Posted by bimal_67

Hi, bumping up the thread for updates if any, on road condition for Delhi - Dharamshala route. Intend to cover Delhi to Dharamshala in a day.

Posting too late but sharing for the benefits of others who might be interested in this route.

Delhi to Chandigarh is a smooth road with a few reckless drivers spoiling the drive quality every now and then. Chandigarh to Dharamsala is also butter smooth. The route is as follows:

Chandigarh-Anandpur Sahib-Nangal-Una-Dharamsala

There are two small bottlenecks at a few places:
1. Near Nangal
2. Between una and Dharamsala: around 15km of broken non existent road.

This is temporary and I expect the expressway type of road between Dharamsala and Una will be ready in the next 6-8 months.

[Dosojin]

Originally Posted by PaddleShifter

Posting too late but sharing for the benefits of others who might be interested in this route.

Delhi to Chandigarh is a smooth road with a few reckless drivers spoiling the drive quality every now and then. Chandigarh to Dharamsala is also butter smooth. The route is as follows:

Chandigarh-Anandpur Sahib-Nangal-Una-Dharamsala

There are two small bottlenecks at a few places:
1. Near Nangal
2. Between una and Dharamsala: around 15km of broken non existent road.

This is temporary and I expect the expressway type of road between Dharamsala and Una will be ready in the next 6-8 months.

Hello PaddleShifter - checking if you have update on latest condition between Chandigarh and Dharamshala.

[PaddleShifter]

Originally Posted by Dosojin

if you have update on latest condition…

Dear Dosojin, I havent been to Dharamsala since this last update. Based on what I saw in October, there is no way that the whole road is completed by now but the broken patch should not be more than 15km or so either. Should not be a problem at all to drive on the route I have mentioned in my last post above.

I recommend that you get route/ road update and related assistance from a local when you cross Una.

[sinharishi]

Route Update:

Left home at 4:45am from G.Noida. We crossed Ambala at 7:15am, post that lost an hour navigating through detours to re-join the NH back towards chandigarh. I have updated the Delhi-Chandigarh thread on what route we took. We lost an hour getting stuck, taking detour!

Took left from Zirakpur towards Aerocity road towards Kharar. Took first stop at Ropar Haveli for breakfast.

Please beware of few potholes in Anandpur Sahib. I am visiting Dharamshala after 4 years and post Una it is a 2-laned highway all the way till Dharamshala.

However the road conditions on the 2-laned highway is overall good. Took right towards Pragpur then Dehra to reach Kangra. Just before Kanga for some 20 odd kms road repair/expansion work is going on. Too many diversions but rains and mud made it smooth ride.

Jokes apart, take a look at my car and you can assess how bad it was.

After Kangra it was 2-laned well laod tarmac till Dharamshala. It took us overall 11 hrs to reach with 3 breaks and one refuel stop.

[Dosojin]

Originally Posted by sinharishi

Route Update:

Left home at 4:45am from G.Noida. We crossed Ambala at 7:15am, post that lost an hour navigating through detours to re-join the NH back towards chandigarh. I have updated the Delhi-Chandigarh thread on what route we took. We lost an hour getting stuck, taking detour!

Took left from Zirakpur towards Aerocity road towards Kharar. Took first stop at Ropar Haveli for breakfast.

Please beware of few potholes in Anandpur Sahib. I am visiting Dharamshala after 4 years and post Una it is a 2-laned highway all the way till Dharamshala.

However the road conditions on the 2-laned highway is overall good. Took right towards Pragpur then Dehra to reach Kangra. Just before Kanga for some 20 odd kms road repair/expansion work is going on. Too many diversions but rains and mud made it smooth ride.

Jokes apart, take a look at my car and you can assess how bad it was.

After Kangra it was 2-laned well laod tarmac till Dharamshala. It took us overall 11 hrs to reach with 3 breaks and one refuel stop.

Attachment 2578645

Attachment 2578646

Attachment 2578647

Hi sinharishi,

How was the road condition around Pragpur? I will be travelling to Dharamshala this week and was wondering if it will be better to continue on NH503 and go via Amb instead of taking the turn towards Pragpur. The road via Pragpur seems to be a state highway.

Also, how much time did it take you to reach Dharamshala from Zirakpur?

Thanks

[sinharishi]

Originally Posted by Dosojin

Hi sinharishi,

How was the road condition around Pragpur?
.
.
.

Also, how much time did it take you to reach Dharamshala from Zirakpur?

The road via Pragpur is narrow, there are a few undulations but nothing to be concerned about.

It took me 6 hours including a break at Ropar Haveli from Zirakpur to Dharamshala.

Route Update: Dharamshala to Delhi

Just returned from a 1,276 KMs to Dharamshala-Mcleodganj-Bir. We decided to cut short the trip due to my parent's health. Left Dharamshala at 2pm. Took Kangra-Dehra-Pragpur-Amb-Una-Ropar-Kharar-Mohali-Zirakpur-Amabala-Sonipat-EPE-G.Noida.

We stopped overnight at Ginger @ Zirakpur. It took us 7 hours with 2 breaks to reach Zirakpur. Zirakpur-Ambala is now open, they have opened only one lane (Ambala bound) and all lanes towards Chandigarh. Zirakpur to Home took us 4 hrs with one break.

Stops:
- Ropar Haveli (Onward) for breakfast
- Kross Road, near Amb for lunch (return)
- Barista @ Roopnagar (Clean toilets attached to IOCL + has XP95)
- NIK Baker's @ Derra Bassi

[Dosojin]

I did Chandigarh Airport to Dharamshala on 7th March and back on 10th March. Took 7 hours onwards and 6.5 on return leg, with breaks.

Route: Airport->Ropar->Kiratpur Sahib->Anandpur Sahib->Nangal->Una->Pragpur->Ranital->Kangra->Dharamshala

We did the hill drive on 7th during nighttime and found the road conditions perfectly fine. Some sections of the hill roads have the typical minor potholes here and there but nothing to slow you down. Even the bad stretch of approximately 10-12 Kms before Kangra is nothing to worry about (it is due to the 4-laning of the Shimla-Kanga highway).

On return journey, we started early morning and enjoyed the hilly parts of the drive.

There are intermittent jarring potholes around Anandpur Sahib across a stretch of approximately 10Kms. So, please watch out for them.

Pitstops (onwards):

1. The Gulmohar Grand Hotel - 8 miles stone Una Behdala (https://maps.app.goo.gl/oUoqmiRJUnittZd79)
2. Haveli Hotel, near Dehra (not able to find on Google Maps)

Please note, you will find no decent pitstops between Ranital and Kangra.

Pitstops (return):

1. Farmer's Cafe and Picnic Spot (https://maps.app.goo.gl/Xr3Ctx167Meycr4j7)
2. Sarai Bharatgarh (https://maps.app.goo.gl/B2ELVaXJU5habxhX7)

Good washrooms in all the above places.

[Kxar07]

Route query:

Hi guys,
I am traveling in a few weeks from Hoshiarpur to Dharmshala. Staying at a resort before the city.
Has anyone taken this route?

Hoshiarpur NH3 - Mubarikpur SH 503 - Ranital - Kangra - Mandar Road 1 from Matour - Sukkar Khas

Any precautions for a Seltos drive in these roads?

Thank you!

[abhisekkhanna]

Hi,

Would appreciate your inputs on the route conditions from Gurgaon to Dharamshala. In case we want to avoid elevation, it is better to go through Pathankot instead of the traditional Chandigarh-Una route?

Regards

[MyLife_MyCar]

How is the Chandigarh-Dharamshala route after the monsoon? Is it advisable to do a trip in a sedan at the end of Sept / beginning of October?

[c_trivedi]

Originally Posted by MyLife_MyCar

How is the Chandigarh-Dharamshala route after the monsoon? Is it advisable to do a trip in a sedan at the end of Sept / beginning of October?

Hi @MyLife_MyCar, did you make the trip in September? If yes, do you remember how the road conditions were between Chandigarh and Dharamshala? I’m planning on going to Mcleod Ganj during the first week of January in a sedan myself.

[MyLife_MyCar]

Originally Posted by c_trivedi

Hi @MyLife_MyCar, did you make the trip in September?

No, I badly wanted to, but the plan didn't materialise.